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Thursday, July 30, 2020

Caring For The "Cats"

Caterpillars, that is...
The hubs calls them "cats"!
"Did you check the "Cats"?, did you feed the "Cats"?...
- did you clean the cage? -

The caterpillars have 3 activities, they eat, they sleep and they poop, a lot!

In this image I have just finished cleaning the cage, and given them fresh dill.

Here is one large and one small caterpillar, 
they start to eat immediately after I place the dill in the cage.



They usually arch this way and pull the dill up toward them when they eat.

First an egg...
then a caterpillar or feeding stage...
after eating a lot, the caterpillar stops eating,
looks for the perfect spot and forms this "J" hook.
You can see the silk they spin to hang from.

After a few days in the "J" hook, it forms into a chrysalis or pupa.

I do not know the exact time frames, I always have so many in the cage,
it is hard for me to keep track...
and I often think, what's the point anyway!!

 The hubs and I both enjoy this so much, our first butterfly should be any day now.

 We have 10 babies we just brought in, and so the next crop begins!

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12 comments:

  1. eileeninmdJuly 30, 2020 at 7:13 AM

    Hello, Debbie

    It is great to be a part of raising the butterflies. You are doing a great job with the "cats".
    Take care,stay safe! Have a great day!

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  2. SusieJuly 30, 2020 at 7:17 AM

    Debbie, I loved the pictures of your caterpillars. Even then they have fancy colors. :) I love what you do to help with more butterflies in our world. The old place down the road ,with the house that is falling down, has a yard full of milkweed and we have seen many Monarch butterflies. Joy ! Blessings, be safe, xoxo, Susie

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  3. Marie SmithJuly 30, 2020 at 8:07 AM

    Your a butterfly whisperer for sure. I LOVE these posts about your nursery, Debbie. Take care.

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  4. Changes in the windJuly 30, 2020 at 9:28 AM

    Is there other people that do this too? Like maybe a group like bee keepers? Glad you enjoy it.

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    Replies
    1. DebbieJuly 30, 2020 at 9:41 AM

      i have learned through doing this that there are a lot of people who also do it. some people only raise a few, others do it on a much grander scale!! i think i am somewhere in the middle...i am raising what i can handle and the hubs helps a lot!!

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  5. Brian KingJuly 30, 2020 at 9:43 AM

    Very nice! You wouldn't think butterflies would be so much work, but obviously they are. Looking forward to seeing them!

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  6. R's RueJuly 30, 2020 at 9:45 AM

    Cute.

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  7. Farm GirlJuly 30, 2020 at 9:50 AM

    That is really a nice project for the summer. Then your yard will be filled with butterflies. So very nice to have a summer project like that.

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  8. ConniecrafterJuly 30, 2020 at 11:21 AM

    Like his nick name for them, it sounds a lot like a baby, eat, sleep and poop. The good thing is there are no night feedings and crying :)
    I can only imagine it is hard to keep track of them all, neat to see the different stages!

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  9. Ruth HiebertJuly 30, 2020 at 4:29 PM

    This all sounds like a lot of work, but when you enjoy it, the work is so much easier.

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  10. Lowcarb team memberJuly 31, 2020 at 10:29 AM

    You certainly look after them well :)

    All the best Jan

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  11. LeAnnJuly 31, 2020 at 8:24 PM

    These are amazing photos and I find what you are both doing admirable. I enjoy reading about the process very much. You get some great photos that show what they are up too. Thanks for being such a wonderful nurturing woman.
    Blessings and hugs for you two!

    ReplyDelete